The Dragons Challenges
To collect Dragon trading cards, do any or all of the challenges below.
Most of the challenges require you to take of photo of yourself doing the challenge.
Visit any branch of Whangarei District Libraries and bring proof of having done the challenge such as photos, artwork, written stories, etc.
Some challenges only require you to visit a library to get a Dragon card!
You can start collecting Dragon trading cards on Wednesday 18 December 2024.
Challenge 1: Aledran
Go on a bush walk either locally or somewhere in New Zealand
Take a photo while on your adventure as proof to collect the Aledran Dragon card.
Bush walks and activity suggestions:
- Haruru Falls Track (Bay of Islands)
Birdwatching: Take a bird guide and a pair of binoculars to spot native birds such as tui and kereru.
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items to search for, such as specific leaves, rocks or insects.
- Matapouri Coastal Track (Tutukaka Coast)
Beachcombing: Collect shells, driftwood and interesting stones.
Sketching: Take sketchbooks and pencils and draw the beautiful coastal scenery.
- Smuggler’s Bay/Busby Head Loop (Whangarei Heads)
Exploring Historic Sites: Visit the old gun emplacements and talk about their history.
Beach Play: Have a sandcastle building competition.
Challenge 2: Nympaea
Visit the Land of the Lotus Park, Watergardens and Banana Park at Maungatapere
Take a picnic and make the most of the grounds.
Mention that you're participating in the libraries' Dragons Summer Challenge to receive free entry.
Take a photo of yourself there as proof to collect your Nymphaea Dragon card.
Address: 304 Mangakahia Road, Maungatapere
Phone: 027 439 1570 – please ring before visiting to check if the park is open.
landofthelotus.nz
Challenge 3: Aurelia
Visit the Botanica Whangārei
It's a wonderful place to escape the summer heat. Enjoy exploring all the different areas - some are kept very cool to keep the ferns happy, while the cacti area is kept nice and warm. It's a perfect outing for nature lovers and families alike.
Take a photo of yourself next to your favourite fern or cactus plant to collect the Aurelia Dragon card.
If you are unable to get to Botanica, take a photo of yourself in a garden with ferns and flowers.
Botanica Whangārei
Challenge 4: Aqualis
Visit any beach around New Zealand
Take a photo of the activities you did at the beach to collect the Aqualis Dragon card. We’d love to see!
Here are some beach activity ideas:
- Write you name in the sand with driftwood, shells, feathers, stones of rocks
- Collect whatever you can find (twigs, stones, leaves, seaweed, wildflowers) and create a work of art
- Bring a bubble wand and solution and chase the bubbles down the beach
- Have a sandcastle building competition
- Explore tide pools to discover marine life like crabs, starfish and small fish. The rock pools at Whale Bay are great for this.
Challenge 5: Frolicscale
Visit a playground, local or anywhere around New Zealand
What did you play on? What was your favourite feature of the playground? Did you have a picnic there?
Take a photo and share your experience with a Librarian when you collect a Frolicscale Dragon card.
Challenge 6: Emberpuff
Roast marshmallows or create s'mores
You can roast marshmallows over a fire, BBQ or even tealight candles.
Did you use giant marshmallows or tiny ones? How many did you eat?
Take a photo as proof to collect your Emberpuff Dragon card.
Challenge 7: Kamodrake
Visit the Kamo Library
While you're there, borrow a jigsaw puzzle, book or DVD movie and ask the Librarian for a Kamodrake Dragon card.
Or if you take a jigsaw puzzle home, take a photo of yourself beside the completed puzzle. We love to see what they look like when they are finished!
Kamo Library
Challenge 8: Onerahidrake
Visit the Onerahi Library
Have you managed to visit all the branch libraries yet? Tell the Librarian if you have and ask for an Onerahidrake Dragon card. Don’t forget to borrow a book, magazine, DVD movie or jigsaw puzzle while you are there.
Onerahi Library
Challenge 9: Tikidrake
Visit the Tikipunga Library
While you're there, borrow a book, magazine or a jigsaw puzzle and ask the Librarian for a Tikidrake Dragon card.
Tikipunga Library
Challenge 10: Centraldrake
Visit Whangārei Central Library in the heart of Whangārei
Hang out for a while and enjoy the space, maybe even have a hot chocolate at the No.7 Espresso Café. Say hi to Joseph who runs the café. Remember to borrow a book, magazine, jigsaw puzzle or DVD movie. And don’t forget to ask for your Centraldrake Dragon card from the Information desk.
Whangārei Central Library
Challenge 11: Busdrake
Visit the Mobile Library
Hop on board when the Mobile Library comes to where you live or when it is at one of its special summer stops at a beach during January 2025. Ask the librarian for a Busdrake Dragon card.
Please check the Mobile Library timetable for when it will be close to you at a beach.
Mobile Library
Challenge 12: Bibliodrake
Read a book featuring Dragons
Browse Dragon books in the library catalogue
When you collect your Bibliodrake Dragon card, please tell the Librarian about the dragon book you have read. We love to hear your recommendations!
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Fiction
- How To Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell
- Dragon Realm series by Katie Tsang
- Dragon Rider series by Cornelia Funke
Junior Comics
- Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly series by Jordan Quinn
- Tea Dragon series by Kay O’Neill
- Pup and Dragon series by Alice Walstead
Junior Quick Reads
- Dragon Towers series by Pip Bird
- Ella and Owen series by Jaden Kent
- Dragon Tales by Dav Pilkey
Junior Picture Books
- Ellie’s Dragon by Bob Graham
- Where is the Dragon by Leo Timmers
- Georgie Grows a Dragon by Emma Lazell
Challenge 13: Artagon
Design a container for your Dragon cards
This can be a folder, poster, box or any creative display to hold your cards.
We are super excited to see your creations! Take a photo as proof or bring in what you have made to show a Librarian to collect your Artagon Dragon card.
Challenge 14: Brickscale
Love LEGO?
This challenge is for you! Create anything you want out of LEGO, but we'd especially love to see a dragon.
Take a photo as proof and show it to a Librarian to collect your Brickscale Dragon card.
Challenge 15: Scribeclaw
Write a poem, story, movie review or create a comic strip
Don’t forget to illustrate your writing. To collect your Scribeclaw Dragon card, take your work to show a Librarian.
We're always on the lookout for new and upcoming authors!
Challenge 16: Bookwyrm
Keep a reading log over the summer
You can decide if you want to read a certain number of minutes a day, or you might like to set a goal for books read over the summer, for example 5 books.
Audiobooks and eBooks count too. Check out our free eLibrary
Download the reading log and record the books as you read them. Ask your parents/caregiver to sign it for each book you read.
To collect a Bookwyrm Dragon card, show your reading log to a Librarian.
Download a reading log(PDF, 89KB)
Challenge 17: Flame
Cook up a treat
Go to the kitchen and cook something associated with a children’s book.
To collect your Flame Dragon card to take a photo of yourself cooking and of the result. Librarian’s never say no to baking! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Make a bowl of porridge from Goldilocks’ and the Three Bears
- Make a batch of cupcakes and decorate to look like spiders, inspired by Charlotte’s Web
- Make some gingerbread men and decorate, hopefully they won’t run away like they do in the story!
- Make a delicious peach cobbler inspired by the book James and the Giant Peach
Challenge 18: Inkscale
Create a unique cover for your favourite book
Be creative - use paint, watercolors, coloured pencils, pens or even collage materials from old magazines and scrap paper. Don't forget to include the title and change the illustrator's name to your own.
Take your book cover or a photo of it to show a Librarian and collect your Inkscale Dragon card.
Challenge 19: Boxscale
Boxscale needs a new dragon den. Can you create one?
The den can be made from anything:
Go into the bush and make one from items collected in nature.
Create one out of boxes and sheets.
Make one in miniature out of clay or playdough. The sky is the limit.
You might even want to have a sleepover in your den.
We are excited to see all your creations, so don’t forget to take a photo to collect your Boxscale Dragon card.
Challenge 20: Skyflare
Make a pair of dragon wings
Skyflare is a designer of dragon wings. Can you improve on their designs?
Make a pair of dragon's wings out of anything you like. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Use toitoi, ferns and branches, add flowers for decoration
- Draw them using chalk on the driveway
- Make them from cardboard and decorate
- Use sturdy material such as felt and decorate with sequins and fabric paint
Take a photo or wear them to the library to collect your Skyflare Dragon card.